By: Chinedum Ohanusi
The Director, Department of School Sports in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mallam Hashimu Adamu Ojah says action in Track and Field events (Athletics) of the 2025 Barrister Nyesom Wike FCT School Sports Festival will resume in earnest at Package ‘A’ of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, in Abuja, today, February 25, 2025.
Mallam Hashimu said there were clouds of uncertainties, as to the availability of the facilities at that area of the stadium, but the timely intervention of the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC), especially its Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko set aside what he called “the hiccups”.
We understand that Mallam Dikko on Sunday, expressly ordered the stadium management to open their gates, and grant access to the students and games officials, without further delay.
“The approval was first of all verbal, but we will pick up the written approval in due course. Thankfully, we were also asked to meet with the stadium managers, to complete the other formalities; after which, our competitions scheduled to hold there will begin”, Mallam Hashimu told reporters.
It means some of the vents in Track and Field, that’s athletics, billed to start yesterday (Monday), will have to be rescheduled; but Board Games – Chess, Scrabble, Ludo and Ayo were not affected by the said hiccup, and will get underway today, as originally programmed.
The finals in Blue Riband races and relays, shall form part of the highlights of the Grand Finale of the fiesta, on Thursday February 27.
Camp opened on Sunday at about 4pm, at the Education Secretariat facility in Utako; where adequate arrangements have been made for the well-being of the athletes and other games officials to be catered for.
All Games and Court events of the fiesta were concluded last week, while qualifiers for the track and field events, held at two conferences; that’s Gwagwalada and Garki; and the competition at that level were in three categories – Primary, Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary Schools.
The revived FCT School Sports Festival was held for the first time, last year, that’s after twenty-eight years; started with zonal preliminaries in eight centers; Abaji, Gwagwalada and Tungan Maje; as well as Garki, Tudun Wada, Kubwa/Dutse and Karu.
